Photographer's Note

Minnewater (Lake of Love), Bruges.

This is one of the many photos i had shot at the same spot after sunset, almost in darkness, also under a heavy December 31st sky. I had shared a sephia version previously on TE, now this one is in B&W and in square format. I cleaned the noise resulted by high ISO value, sacrificing some sharpness on the trees.

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For most visitors the Minnewater and its lovely park are the entrance to the beautiful city of Bruges. The Minnewater is a canalized lake. From the bridge (1740) one can already enjoy a nice panoramic view over the town. Because of the idyllic surroundings it is mostly referred to as 'the lake of Love', the Dutch word 'Minne' meaning 'love'.

Actually, the origins of the lake are less romantic. It was here that the coastal river 'Reie' entered the city. The river was later canalized and made to continue until the center of town. It is not sure where the name 'Minnewater' comes from. An explanation could be 'water van het gemeen', which could be translated as the 'common water'. The lake was used as a water reservoir, to keep the water of the canals at a constant level. Next to the lake is the Minnewater park, where sometimes in the summertime (rock) concerts are organized.

One of the symbols of Bruges is the swan. There are always plenty of them on the 'Minnewater'. There exists a nice legend about the swans of Bruges. In 1488 the people of Bruges had executed one of the town administrators belonging to the court of Maximilian of Austria, husband and successor of duchess Mary of Burgundy. The town administrator was called 'Pieter Lanchals', a name which means ' long neck'. The Lanchals family coat of arms featured a white swan. Legend has it that Maximilian punished Bruges by obliging the population to keep swans on their lakes and canals till eternity. Most of these legends and romantic interpretations come from the 19th century. Believe them or not : the beautiful 'Minnewater' deserves them.

Hello Deniz
There is a distinct gothic mood in this composition, the dark light, the bare trees and the sombre crosses on top of that church are lightened only by the presence of the pure white of the swans. An intriguing composition indeed.
happy new year
Daniel

hello prince siegfried,
indeed, rather a gloomy mood here, in a place so lovely and with this nice name. I have looked at the other version, maybe I prefer it in sephia. But I like this one too, like from a Brothers Grimm fairy tale book. Nice swans there, when they are fed, than they do not fly away for winter. Fascinating composition.
And why are you depressed in the end of the year? Let's hope the new year will be better.

Hi Deniz, This image looks like an old print from the old days by film. Excellent composition and POV. An ancient look church with the stone houses along the river bank. The white swans shine the dark and depressed climate instantly. Thank for sharing and Happy Holidays...cheer
Anna

Hi Deniz
I love the B&w treatment on this, it does make it feel like a fairy tale, but a rather bleak one with no happy ending. The buildings suit this vibe well and the dark sense is excellent. Of course the swans being so bright break that darkness and make them a focal point of the shot and story. Great sene, brilliantly bleak.
Cheers
Noel

I like how you cleaned this photo of noise, and the necessary side effect of that being the slight blur of the trees, which is in fact my favourite element here. It adds a sense of magic and just a little bit of scariness to this already atmospheric image. The B&W is a good and original idea, the whites, grey tones and blacks have been superbly contrasted. The white swan in the mid ground reminds me a of miniature Loch Ness Monster :)

I hope you had a wonderful New Years Eve and that 2014 brings you everything you wish for.

The buildings in background of "Begijnhof" a pleasant place for a nice stroll.
I don't why you these picture makes in black and white!
One of the most beautiful places of Bruges.
Marvellous light and superb clarity as usual.
Thanks for sharing and wish you a Healthy 2014 as well.

Hello Deniz. This black and white photo with the strong contrasts exerts a very peculiar fascination. A photo with a lot of aesthetics and hidden symbolism. Ideal for our imagination.
Best rgds, Wolfgang.